Chapter 8: The Saffron City Gym

Ash woke up. "Another day of Gym battling." Ash sighed to himself. Then his memory sparked to life. He had forgotten to get Haunter from Oak! He sat up quickly, and then saw his Pokédex at his bedside. A quick transport, and Ash’s Haunter’s Poke Ball was sitting in his backpack, ready to be called out at a moment’s notice. Misty’s arm was still laying on him when he jumped (she slept like a log, barely moving, and if Ash set eyes on her with her hair down sleeping, he’d instantly remember the love in his life.) She had seen him press the buttons to make the transport. "Ash, I know you’re there." she murmured with her eyes closed.

"Yeah Misty," he said sweetly, "I know you’re there too." Ash had his back to her. It was 7:30, and they had to check out of the hotel by 10:30. Misty walked into the bathroom to change into some clothes & take her bikini off. Ash waited, and saw her come out. He changed, and they checked out, and left for the Gym. Misty shuddered when they set eyes back on Sabrina. Her obsession with psychic powers had come back, and Haunter was Ash’s now. "4 on 4. Agreed?" she said defiantly.

"Agreed. I’ll start with… Scyther!" Ash threw the ball, but Misty kept her back to the exit, because, if he lost, they were doomed. Sabrina’s parents had escaped, but she didn’t care about that. She was once again obsessed with psychic power. Sabrina sent out a Mr. Mime. "Scyther, Leech Life!" Ash cried. Mr. Mime was too slow, and it succumbed to Scyther easily. Ash smirked & Misty cheered… nervously. She was worried, but didn’t know whether she should hide behind Ash or stay as still as she could. Sabrina now sent out a Slowbro. Ash was fighting back chuckles as he commanded Scyther to run circles around it & them use a Slash attack. It fainted, and Misty couldn’t help but run up behind Ash & hide her face. She was getting nervous despite the fact Ash was ahead. The rest of the battle was a cakewalk for Ash. He had won. They traded back all their traded Pokémon, and they were off for Vermilion City. Ash gave Misty the Cascade Badge back so he’d be eligible to battle Lt. Surge again. Misty decided to get her Tentacruel from Cerulean for her Dragonair.

Chapter 9: Route 6

The sun was sweltering above their heads as they walked from Saffron City to Vermilion City. "Ash, can we go somewhere… romantic?". Misty had a strange tone on that sentence.

"Well, if you know where it is." he demanded.

"Don’t get so nervous! I know where it is." she squeaked. "Just follow me." Ash let her lead, and he knew something heartwarming was coming up. She led him to a cliff with a drop of about 20 feet to a lake. "Uh," Ash asked nervously, "do we…-"

"Jump off, but not now. I want to tell you a quick story. Whenever I had few days to get rid of, and I was not liking how things were going at the Gym, I’d sneak down here & camp out for a few days & swim here. That’s basically it, except… (pause) I get to spend another trip here with you." Misty took his hand. "Come on! It’s sweltering out here anyway." She was going to countdown, but Ash jumped ahead of her, pulling her off. She didn’t yell though- she was constantly hot walking around this muggy place in late July. He should have known she wasn’t ready- not even someone who descended from a Waterflower. She belly flopped, and she must’ve blacked out because she wasn’t moving. Ash did do a good job of keeping her going- he lazily dragged her to the surface for a breath they didn’t need very much. After that, he put a hand on her chest to see if her heart was still pumping. (AU: Prepare for a ‘dense Ash’ scene, ladies & gentlemen) There was nothing, and he began to freak out. "Hey Ash," Misty noticed, "if you’re looking for a heartbeat, try the other side."

"Oh, yeah, well, I knew that…" as he blushed at the pathetic mistake he had just made, while he shifted his hand over to Misty’s left. There was the beat- nice & steady. They then just held each other, letting themselves sink. Ash knew that he’d made a mistake, and it came close to taking Misty. Misty knew that Ash did do some dumb things, but she’d forgive him when he asked. They just let themselves sink, their feet down, just hanging on to each other. Misty was in front of Ash, and he was the one who held them together. "So," an underwater voice blared, "there is a romance between the twerps." They looked like they were about to kiss, but, in reality, it would be a quick word. Their voice would be a little muffled; it would have to do considering they didn’t have their communicators on. "Misty," Ash spoke, constantly straight into Misty’s mouth, "it’s Team Rocket." Misty felt her lungs extend way out, and also knew that Ash wasn’t finished & needed the air back to finish. She exhaled. "Get ready for a battle." Misty gave part of her breath back to him, and they broke up. Misty got one of her Poké Balls out. Her Lapras.

Ash knew something was up when Misty had a certain face on. She had that face on right now. It was a face of confidence- surefire confidence. Ash didn’t bother getting a Poké Ball out for himself. Team Rocket’s sub loomed in front of them some 300 yards away- they were in their range. Misty knew what to do- fire without being fired on. Her plan was, get down flat on your faces while Lapras freezes them solid with a Ice Beam. She signaled. Ash got down. Misty let herself sink down on top of him. "NOW!" she yelled to herself, throwing the ball. Lapras came down right on top of them, and it immediately read Misty’s first urgent thought: "Get off! If you don’t, I’ll be dead!" and the next one was, "Hit that submarine with an Ice Beam." Then, once she saw her Lapras open its mouth, she knew she had just made a huge mistake. She remembered the first time she put on The Magical Mermaid & that battle with Team Rocket. Dewgong’s Ice Beam went right through the water & only froze when it hit something. This would be different. All the water would freeze. Misty rolled over so she was facing the surface. They were about 30 feet under- too far down to just try & run. She floated up a little, and Ash somehow knew to flip himself over the same way. He grabbed Misty where you could see the skin between the tank top & shorts. She smiled at him, as he had grabbed her beneath her suspenders, only having her by the skin. Misty liked that- it felt good, and she knew that she’d need to considering what was about to happen! Lapras fired, and froze its head solid. The ice saved them. Misty got her communicator out, and Ash took her cue. "Ash, you know how that felt?"